Senate Report Details Federal Overreach Under Clean Water Act

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 released a report that exposes the administration’s reckless and unlawful actions in enforcing the Clean Water Act, according to AFBF. “The report shows in detail how the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have used an overly expansive interpretation of their authority to regulate ‘waters of the U.S.,’” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement.

“The case studies presented in the report reflect the serious concerns we have raised for more than two years now: the new ‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule takes the EPA’s and Corps’ longstanding regulatory overreach and gives it a new name,” Duvall said. Further, “The agencies have persistently and unlawfully stretched the limited authority Congress gave them, even to the point of regulating ordinary plowing, a normal farming activity exempted by Congress. They have even claimed authority to regulate tire ruts and puddles found on the farm.

“The Waters of the U.S. rule, now stayed in federal court, will cement that lawless expansion of authority unless Congress acts to stop it. The time to rein in these agencies is now.

“It’s time for the Senate to Ditch the Rule,” Duvall concluded, urging the Senate to once again take up S. 1140 at its earliest opportunity.

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